Though Wayne Simmons' options appear limited, he has refused to include the Bengals among them.
Simmons, a highly regarded outside linebacker, Monday rejected the Bengals' offer for a multiyear contract thought to be worth $1.5 million to $2 million a year.
A source close to Simmons said the Green Bay Packers, the unrestricted free agent's former team, have told him they won't offer a contract.
But the closing of this door didn't force Simmons toward the Bengals.
''He feels like there's more money to be made somewhere else,'' said Bengals director of pro personnel Jim Lippincott, after speaking with Simmons' agent, Tom Condon.
Cincinnati's offer was thought to be the only one Simmons had received. This apparently didn't faze Simmons, who alienated several teams by incurring a recent DUI charge and displaying an ornery attitude. Lippincott said Condon thinks his client can coax a more lucrative offer from New England or Kansas City.
Lippincott said Condon suggested a deal for Simmons that would have cost the Bengals less money under the salary cap. But the Bengals calculated that the average yearly salary, total salary and signing bonus would have been higher and declined to negotiate further.
With Simmons eliminated from consideration, two other coveted free agents will visit the Bengals today: linebacker Darrin Smith and defensive tackle Tony Siragusa.
Like Simmons, Smith is envisioned as a potential force in the Bengals' new 3-4 defense; unlike Simmons, Smith is seen more as an inside linebacker.
He emerged as a top performer for Dallas last year, notching 10 or more tackles in six games after reaching that level only four times in his first three seasons.
Siragusa's attraction is obvious: Imagine a front line with him, John Copeland and Dan Wilkinson.
A premier run-stopper, Siragusa would fit nicely in the 3-4, especially since none of Cincinnati's holdover interior linemen has extensive experience in the nose-tackle spot.
Siragusa's signability is an intriguing issue. His agent, Gus Sunseri, said Monday that Siragusa has a ''very'' open mind about the five or six teams courting him.
''If it wasn't open, he wouldn't be coming (to Cincinnati),'' Sunseri said.
But speculation has abounded that Siragusa is extremely close to finalizing a deal with the Oakland Raiders. One San Francisco-area newspaper reported recently that Sunseri and the Raiders had hammered out the first two years of a four-year contract.
Sunseri dismissed this as premature: ''What's 'close'? Those reports have been going on for two weeks.''
Free agency stories
LAST DAY FOR SIMMONS March 24, 1997
OFFER TO SIMMONS EXPIRES THIS WEEKEND March 22, 1997
BRAHAM INTERESTS PATRIOTS March 21, 1997
SIMMONS MAY FIT IN BUDGET March 19, 1997
BOOMER COULD BE BACK March 18, 1997
SARGENT SIGNS FOR 2 YEARS March 13, 1997
SUTTER SIGNS; SIMMONS TO VISIT March 12, 1997
HEARST HANDS BALL TO CARTER March 8, 1997
HARRIS, COLLINS LOOK ELSEWHERE March 6, 1997
MAP FAVORS BENGALS WITH FREE AGENTS March 5, 1997
3 FREE AGENTS VISIT TODAY March 4, 1997
CB HARRIS SETS FREE-AGENT VISIT Feb. 27, 1997
BENGALS MAKING HEADWAY WITH FREE AGENTS Feb. 25, 1997
BENGALS HAVE CAP ROOM FOR FREE AGENTS Feb. 15, 1997
BENGALS WON'T CHASE TOP FREE AGENTS Feb. 14, 1997